For the final showstopper, Sophia wore a stunningly heavy white gown adorned with lace and rhinestones. Luo Ding, on the other hand, donned a military-style riding outfit, complete with knee-high leather boots and metal studs—Jason’s rare indulgence in decorative accents. The fitted cut of the riding outfit highlighted Luo Ding’s tall, slender frame, giving him a commanding, almost martial air.
Jason stepped back, frowning as he examined the look.
Something still felt off…
Luo Ding stood patiently while Jason scrutinized him, then, inspired by the knightly attire, tried out a proud, aloof expression.
Jason’s eyes lit up, and he suddenly shouted, “Get the gray cape! Hurry!!”
The cape was heavy, more like coarse wool than something lightweight. As the wardrobe staff fastened it around Luo Ding’s neck, Jason circled him a few times, adjusting the length that dragged on the floor and instructing the assistants to carry it properly.
Finally, Jason stepped back, satisfied. “Perfect.”
With the duo show models having cleared the stage, the lights dimmed slightly, becoming softer and more intimate.
As the room buzzed with anticipation, Luo Ding felt a light push from behind. Taking his cue, he began his walk with deliberate, measured steps. Behind him, an assistant quickly spread out the cape, allowing it to trail behind him in a perfect arc.
The runway wasn’t long, but it felt regal and grand.
As Luo Ding stepped out of the shadows, he caught sight of Sophia waiting on the opposite side. She smiled confidently, her lips painted a vibrant red. Her pale skin and gown blended seamlessly, her movements commanding attention.
She was stunning.
No matter who saw her, they would be struck by her beauty.
But today, Sophia had met her match. Luo Ding, walking beside her, began to casually undo the clasp of his cape with slender fingers.
Completely at ease, as if he were merely standing in front of his own dressing mirror, Luo Ding exuded elegance, his neck stretching gracefully as he unfastened the cape. His glance, detached and aloof, carried the haughty air of a prince surveying his subjects.
Even the stunning woman beside him couldn’t dim his light.
At the end of the runway, Luo Ding paused briefly, shaking the cape loose with a flick of his wrist.
The heavy fabric rippled in the air before draping over his arm in neat folds.
He turned, locking eyes with Sophia.
Sophia raised her hand, and Luo Ding smiled slightly, taking it and leading her offstage with a firm, confident stride.
His walk seemed to stir a storm in his wake, and for a moment, Sophia found herself captivated by his forceful presence. She quickly snapped out of it, her gaze sweeping over the audience, where nearly every woman had their eyes glued to Luo Ding, and even most of the men seemed to be paying her little attention.
Gritting her teeth, her palm grew sweaty.
During the final curtain call, Luo Ding and Sophia remained in their show outfits, leading a long line of models behind them. It was like a king and queen parading with their subjects. As they exited from the center of the stage, Luo Ding quickly released Sophia’s hand, stepping back and offering a polite, “Good job.”
Sophia pulled back her hand, lightly touching the spot where Luo Ding had held it, tugging at the corners of her mouth, unsure of what to say. She could feel a cold stare boring into her. Glancing sideways, she saw Tommy Lee glaring at her with clear disdain.
Rolling her eyes internally, Sophia thought, “How can there be men who are so ungentlemanly?”
Uncertain whether Tommy Lee would humiliate her in front of everyone, Sophia hesitated for a couple of seconds. Thankfully, the brief distraction allowed her nerves to settle.
She turned to Luo Ding, ready to return his polite gesture, but just as she was about to speak, she noticed his face suddenly light up with joy—something she had never seen before.
He seemed to be looking at her, but Sophia was sure his gaze wasn’t directed at her.
Soon, the answer became clear.
Luo Ding handed his cape to an approaching assistant, his delight unmistakable, “You’re here already?”
He spoke in Chinese, a language most of the people around didn’t understand. Sophia turned and saw a man standing just outside the crowd, a man so striking that he immediately drew attention.
Despite his tired expression, he was impeccably dressed, his hair perfectly styled. Sophia instantly recognized him.
She glanced back at Luo Ding, watching his reaction for a moment, and an unsettling suspicion began to take shape.
***
Luo Ding had felt an intense gaze on him while he was on stage. With so many people in the audience and poor lighting, he couldn’t pinpoint the source, but he had a strong hunch that it was Duan Xiubo.
The timing made sense.
As soon as Luo Ding saw Duan Xiubo’s face, he noticed the dark circles under his eyes. From Los Angeles to Milan, the long flight combined with all the work Duan had likely crammed in to free up his schedule must have been exhausting.
Luo Ding quickly walked over, mindful of the people around them, and refrained from showing too much affection.
Duan Xiubo’s gaze was fixed solely on him. He had been led backstage by Wu Fangyuan, who, aware of Luo Ding’s walk, had kept Duan hidden so as not to distract him. With some free time, Duan had even washed his hair, shaved his stubble, and styled his hair, determined to look his best when they met.
Watching Luo Ding shine on stage filled him with pride. Even in the shadows, Duan heard the whispers from photographers and audience members alike, all impressed by the newcomer. His heart swelled with a sense of shared achievement.
But up close, he noticed the red veins in Luo Ding’s eyes under the makeup. Knowing how serious Luo Ding was about his work, Duan figured he must have been anxious, pushing himself to prepare for the show.
As their eyes met, Duan’s heart softened. All the questions he had for Luo Ding melted away, replaced by a desire to take him back to the hotel and let him rest.
They stood in silent understanding, their gazes filled with affection. Duan Xiubo finally laughed, reaching out to ruffle Luo Ding’s hair.
Luo Ding smiled, gently swatting Duan’s hand away, “Stop messing around.”
Duan Xiubo’s arrival stirred up a small commotion.
His fame abroad far surpassed that of most domestic stars, and even more than some Hollywood A-listers. In a world driven by profit, the moment a high-profile star like Duan appeared, everyone rushed to greet and court him.
A crowd soon gathered around Luo Ding, eager to approach Duan Xiubo, whether they knew him or not, all calling out greetings and trying to catch his attention.
Tommy Lee stood at a distance, his gaze briefly meeting Duan Xiubo’s, both men exchanging unfriendly looks before turning away simultaneously.
“Luo,” Duan Xiubo heard a husky female voice behind him, a mental alarm going off as the crowd instinctively parted, allowing the woman who had held hands with Luo Ding on stage to glide closer.
His eyes swept over her, and Duan was taken aback. He hadn’t noticed from afar, but up close, she was stunning.
He quickly focused on Luo Ding, only to catch the brief flicker of awkwardness on his face before Luo Ding hid it, turning to the approaching woman, “Sophia.”
Sophia came closer, her gaze flitting between Luo Ding and Duan Xiubo, as if trying to decipher the nature of their relationship. When she got too close for comfort, Duan subtly pulled Luo Ding back a step, draping an arm around his shoulders.
Sophia, who had been about to place a hand on Luo Ding’s shoulder, nearly stumbled as a result.
She looked up, her eyes probing Duan Xiubo’s face.
He smiled coolly, as if the move had no deeper meaning, but in the brief exchange, he shot her a warning look that only she caught.
After that, Sophia behaved herself. Whether she was reading the situation or simply being pragmatic, she kept her distance for the rest of the night, never trying to get too close to Luo Ding again.
The show had been a huge success, and Luo Ding’s performance left a strong impression on many. Some who hadn’t known him even assumed he was a rising male model. Upon learning that he was actually an actor, they were all the more intrigued. After the final bow, Jason personally thanked Luo Ding, and even the typically harsh Matthew had been smiling all night.
Luo Ding, however, skipped the afterparty, excusing himself by saying he was too tired and needed some sleep. Everyone understood, having seen how much effort he’d put into the show, and let him leave early.
Mi Rui, ever the diligent assistant, drove the car, with Wu Fangyuan in the passenger seat. The traffic was bad, stop-and-go.
Both Mi Rui and Wu Fangyuan were exhausted, heads nodding as they yawned. In the backseat, Duan Xiubo reached over, grabbed Luo Ding’s hand, and pulled it closer, holding it tightly.
From the rearview mirror, Mi Rui caught sight of this, his brows furrowing slightly. For the rest of the ride, he couldn’t help but discreetly watch the two in the backseat through the mirror.
Wu Fangyuan, oblivious as ever, sat with his tablet in hand, diligently jotting down notes about Luo Ding’s upcoming schedule while simultaneously scrolling through domestic forums, frustrated at the lack of photos from the show.
Duan Xiubo wasn’t the least bit concerned about being seen, especially since the two in the front were his trusted people. Taking advantage of Luo Ding’s sleepy state, Duan pressed him, “Why are you hanging out with Tommy Lee again? Didn’t we already figure out that he’s bad news? If I’d known he was coming to Milan, I would’ve taken time off and come straight away.”
Luo Ding, half-asleep, muttered, “He’s quit drugs. He’s not a bad guy, really. He’s been looking out for me these past few days. This show? He helped me get it. How could I ignore him?”
“So what?” Duan retorted, still dissatisfied. “You didn’t tell me. If you had, I could’ve gotten you this show too.”
“Mm.”
“And what about Sophia? Why’s she all over you? It looked like she couldn’t wait to glue herself to you. On stage, you even held her hand—”
“I don’t know,” Luo Ding said truthfully. “I only met her today. I think she likes me, but her intentions seem off. It’s not the kind of look someone gives when they’re purely interested. It feels more… calculated. But I can’t be too rude to her, can I? She’s a woman. After this collaboration, we probably won’t see each other again, so—” He paused mid-sentence, glancing toward the two people in the front seat, swallowing back the word “jealous.”
Duan Xiubo shot a glance at the rearview mirror, locking eyes with Mi Rui, who immediately looked away, his face a picture of shock and confusion. He quickly veered the steering wheel, causing the car to swerve a little.
Wu Fangyuan’s head bobbed forward, almost hitting the window, and he clutched his computer, grumbling, “Can you drive properly?”
“Heh.” Mi Rui forced a grin and shot a quick look at Duan Xiubo before shaking his head. “What an idiot.”
The two in the back were practically cuddling at this point. How could Wu Fangyuan be so clueless? How did he manage to hone such obliviousness? Mi Rui wondered.
Duan Xiubo’s place was too far, so after some discussion, they decided to head back to Luo Ding’s hotel. Mi Rui originally intended to book a room for himself, but Duan stopped him, “Just get one room. Luo and I have some things to discuss, so we’ll share.”
Mi Rui froze for a few seconds. As a responsible agent, he felt it was his duty to voice his concerns, but as an employee on the payroll, he didn’t dare argue.
Wu Fangyuan, ever the happy-go-lucky type, followed Duan Xiubo and Luo Ding into the elevator, leaving Mi Rui alone in the lobby, feeling desolate and bitter.
After bidding Wu Fangyuan goodnight, Luo Ding closed the door and immediately said, “I think Mi Rui’s onto us.”
Duan Xiubo gave him a sidelong glance, unsure whether Luo Ding was genuinely surprised or just pretending. They had practically been glued together for days; if Mi Rui hadn’t figured it out by now, he’d have to be an idiot.
Then again, Duan thought about Wu Fangyuan, who had cheerfully waved them off earlier, telling them to have a good rest and not kick off the blankets.
“…” Duan Xiubo decided this wasn’t Luo Ding’s fault and merely grunted in response.
“What should we do?” Luo Ding’s anxiety spiked when he saw Duan’s indifferent response. He glared at Duan, “Can you stop acting like this isn’t a big deal? Is it really okay for Mi Rui to know?”
“What’s the problem?” Duan Xiubo didn’t see what Luo Ding was so worried about.
“What’s the problem?” Luo Ding spread his hands. “How can you be so nonchalant?”
Duan Xiubo chuckled, pulling Luo Ding onto the bed and ruffling his hair again. Flipping over, he wrapped Luo Ding in his arms, “Do you know how much I pay him every year?”
Luo Ding gave him a sideways glance.
“Relax.” Duan patted him on the back. “He won’t react negatively. He won’t jeopardize his job for something like this. Don’t overthink it. As long as we’re happy, who cares what others think?”
This approach to problem-solving was new to Luo Ding. Duan Xiubo’s straightforward attitude was almost enough to make him forget the careful, secretive marriage he’d endured in his past life.
“You don’t believe me?” Duan, seeing Luo Ding still tense, took out his phone and dialed Mi Rui, “Bring up a box of condoms.”
There was a long pause on the other end before Mi Rui finally replied, his voice strained, “Isn’t there… some in the room already?”
“Is there?” Duan Xiubo glanced at the nightstand, where there clearly was a box. He lied without missing a beat, “No, looks like this room forgot to stock up. Just go buy some, no need for all the questions.”
After hanging up, Duan turned to meet Luo Ding’s stunned gaze and shrugged, “Just watch.”
Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang.
Duan opened the door, and Mi Rui, standing a few steps away, shuffled closer, handing over a small, transparent box.
His eyes kept darting toward the room, desperate to catch a glimpse but not daring to be too obvious about it.
After a long, awkward silence, Mi Rui stammered out, “You guys… be more restrained.”
Keep me fueled with caffeine! Support me on Ko-fi! It helps a lot ! Thank you so much ♡(´･ω･)(･ω･`)♡
